Unusual finds and rarities

Slovak nature is not only picturesque but it is also rich in unusual finds and rarities. With their dimensions, the Tatras is the smallest mountain range in the world with an exceptional concentration of wonders set in deep valleys and sky scraping rocky peaks. It is also interesting to observe the regeneration of kilometres of forest after the strong wind storm of 2004. The Slovak Karst National Park is the largest karst area in Central Europe. Ochtinská aragonite cave is the only cave of its kind in Europe. Together with other caves in the Slovak Karst, it is entered in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

More than 40% of the area is covered with forest, which makes Slovakia one of the most forested countries in Europe. And they hide secrets. In Kysuce, we can find the world famous, unique stone spheres and an oil spring, in Dobročský primeval forest we can find ancient trees in a 400-year development cycle, and in Poloniny National Park you can meet bears and wolves as well as one of the last European populations of European bison. Volcanic mountains hide former craters and stone waterfalls, next to Bratislava there is a paleontological dig of prehistoric fossils in the Sandberg sandstone formations. Breath taking natural creations from West to East.

Castle park in Bojnice prouds with Lime Tree of King Matej, one the oldest trees in all Slovakia. It had a girth of 11 metres and a height of 9 metres with a tree-top of 5 metres when the last measurement was taken.

The primeval forest of Badínsky prales, with its rare
primary fir and beech habitat almost untouched by human activity, is one
of the oldest protected areas in Slovakia. It was visited by Prince
Charles in 2000.

Berek Forest Park will be like a balm to you spirit,
offering you the possibility of recreation in the quiet natural
environment in the south-western part of the town of Nové Zámky. It is a perfect place for families with children to relax or for couples to go on a romantic walk.

The village of Bešeňová is one of the few precious places with occurrence of "freshwater" limestone, so-called travertine. These precious calcite forms arised thanks to mineral contents of water,its temperature and, of course, the surface and structure of the landscape.If you have some free time, come and visit this "forsaken" pit situated to the north of the village.

The National Nature Reserve Devínska Kobyla is unique and very interesting locality for its flora. It stretches in the southern most part of the mountains Malé Karpaty on an area of 101 ha. It is situated between villages Devínska Nová Ves, Dúbravka and Devín on the territory of the Capital Bratislava.

The mountain hotel Sliezsky domis the starting point for the trip to the tallest mountain of Slovakia - the Gerlachovský štít
peak (2,655 m). The route leads by the terrace-shaped Velická dolina
valley, with a beautiful 15 m tall Velický vodopád waterfall. For its
botanical diversity, the terrace above the Velický vodopád waterfall
bears the name Kvetnica (The Flower Garden).

Let´s have a look at Košice from the hight! You can have an experience of a panoramic view of the town from the nearby Hradová Watchtower. It rises on the top of the hill, where a medieval castle used to be located in the past. Access is very simple indeed. You can get there by public transport and a little walking.

In Kysuce village Korňa, you will not find any oil tycoons who would become rich thanks to „black gold“. However, you can find there the unique oil spring, which is the only preserved spring among similar smaller oil surface outflows in the central Europe.

An exceptionally attractive trip is the ascent to the Kriváň Mt. (2,494 m ) a stout peak in the western part of the High Tatras. This mountain is a multiple winner of enquiries about the most beautiful mountain in Slovakia.
It is easily recognisable for its conspicuously curved summit, which is
the reason why it is called Kriváň (in English Curved Mount).

The immediate surroundings of the originally Renaissance-style manor house in Lednické Rovne feature a magnificent park that, in line with the English model, was built towards the close of the 18th century by Count Aspremont.

A trip to Lomnický štít peak by chair lift is among the most
attractive adventures for tourists in the High Tatras and, indeed, it
enjoys the popularity of the public. It reaches the differential height
of 1,700 m and carries tourists to a height of 2,634 m above sea level
in only a few minutes.

Even though Slovakia does not stand out as a large country with huge waterfalls, it can be proud of having more than two hundred registered waterfalls. With regard to the area of Slovakia, we can say that this number is unique.

The park surrounding Betliar manor house is the largest historical natural park in Slovakia, registered in the world historical gardens list
since 1978. Its area of the amazing 81 ha presents not only precious
species of trees, but also water structures, paths and historical
buildings that make a harmonious and compact unit with the manor house
itself.

The villages Prosiek a Kvačany in region Liptov are generally known as
starting points for the trips to the most beautiful and most visited of
the Slovak valleys - Prosiecka dolina and Kvačianska dolina.

Roháče are often and justly praised as the most beautiful part of the West Tatras. A crown of wonderful peaks dominated by the majestic Baníkov Mt. surrounds the extensive Roháčska dolina
valley. In turn, the Ostrý Roháč and Volovec Mts. are the princes of
the Roháče Mts. They form an indivisible couple of slender rock
mountains in the principal ridge and look like two devils horns,
expressed by their names (Ostrý Roháč means a sharp horn and Volovec
means an ox).

A trip to the Prielom Dunajca (the canyon of the Dunajec river) is one of the most beautiful in Slovakia. It starts in Červený Kláštor, continues on to the mouth of the Lesnický potok brook and further along the right bank of the meandering Dunajec.

The Prielom Hornádu canyon is one of the biggest tourist attractions of the Slovenský raj Mts. The narrow, 16 kilometre long canyon-like valley separates the marginal ridge culminating in the Tomášovský výhľad view (667 m) from the mountain range.

One of the tourist attractions in the environs of Starý Smokovec and Tatranská Lomnica in the High Tatras is the group of the cascaded Vodopády Studeného potoka waterfalls. These waterfalls are among the most frequently visited in the Tatras.

The most popular and most visited place in the easternmost part of the Slovenský kras is the National Nature Reserve Zádielska tiesňava.
Zádielska tiesňava always wins enquiries carried out among tourists
when they are asked which of the Slovak valleys they consider the most
romantic.